Siblings of Childhood Cancer Falling Between the Cracks: A Call for Action
Today and every day, three Australian families will hear the words:
“Your child has cancer”, changing their lives forever1
· As the rate of childhood cancer continues to rise,2 and demand for Redkite’s services surging 30% during COVID-19, the leading charity has uncovered an urgent need to ensure the unseen emotional and mental health challenges families face are as high a priority as the hospital care and treatments their child receives.
· The findings show two thirds of families affected by childhood cancer – nearly 10,000 Australian family members – miss out on specialised emotional and mental health support.
· Significant urgency revolves around an estimated 2,500 brothers and sisters of children with cancer– with findings confirming they carry a heavy emotional burden which is not addressed.
· The Redkite report on the needs of families, The Hidden Health Crisis – Childhood Cancer Needs More Than Medicine, gathered insights from over 700 Australian parents and carers of children with cancer.
· It has uncovered a critical gap – with nearly two thirds (61%) of brothers and sisters of children with cancer experiencing unmet mental health needs, at the time of diagnosis, and are left vulnerable and unsupported. Alarmingly, this is higher than the child with the diagnosis (51%).
· The ripple effects of childhood cancer are far reaching and have a profound lifetime impact on the entire family. The diagnosis drains finances, taxes relationships, isolates them from community, placing their mental health under significant strain.
· Redkite is seeking support for important new measures to ensure more families receive the holistic support they need – when they need it. Including:-
o A dedicated team within all paediatric oncology wards that will help families prepare to transition back home.
o A program in the community with specialised support tailored for children (diagnosed and siblings) and also Indigenous and culturally/linguistically diverse families.
